Assessment of social vulnerability to floods on Java, Indonesia

This paper investigates social vulnerability to floods at the municipality level on Java. First, we selected a set of social vulnerability indicators and aggregated into two indices; the socioeconomic vulnerability index (SEVI) and the built environment vulnerability index (BEVI). Second, we mapped two indices to identify the most vulnerable municipalities and examined in their spatial patterns using cluster analysis. The distribution of the SEVI and BEVI revealed municipalities with high scores, thereby identifying the places that should be given the most attention. Third, we analyzed the relationship between the economic losses from floods and the vulnerability indicators using a multiple regression model. This analysis has revealed that socioeconomic status and accessibility to basic infrastructure were associated with the economic losses from floods. Finally, we presented practical adaptation options based on the identified vulnerability characteristics and subsequent areas. This study contributes to strategic and informed decisions for emergency preparedness by integrating both index and regression methods to present local-level adaptation measures.